Sitka Baranof Island Alaska

500 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Crystal Cruises (21 Cruises)

Holland America Line (43 Cruises)

Cruise HAL Holland America Line ms Eurodam ship

ms Eurodam

2104 Passengers
86273 tons
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Lindblad Expeditions (40 Cruises)

Norwegian Cruise Line (33 Cruises)

Cruise NCL Norwegian Cruise Line Bliss Ship

Norwegian Bliss

4004 Passengers
168000 tons
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Oceania Cruises (29 Cruises)

Cruise OCE Oceania Cruises Riviera ship

Oceania Riviera

1250 Passengers
66084 tons
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Princess Cruises (19 Cruises)

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (16 Cruises)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (57 Cruises)

Seabourn Cruise Line (48 Cruises)

Seabourn Encore.

Seabourn Encore

40350 tons
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Silversea Cruises (67 Cruises)

Silver Moon

Silver Moon

1007 Passengers
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Viking Ocean Cruises (71 Cruises)

Viking Orion.

Viking Orion

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Viking Venus

Viking Venus

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Port of Sitka, Alaska | Cruise Port Guide

A snow-capped volcano stands guard across the bay, hundreds of wooded islets dot the water, and a green bell tower topped with a golden onion dome rises above the rooftops. Sitka is like no other town in Alaska: the former capital of Russian America, built on Baranof Island facing Mount Edgecumbe, it has blended Tlingit heritage, imperial memories and North Pacific nature for two centuries into a single, surprisingly rich port call.

Getting downtown

Large ships generally dock a few kilometres north of town, from where free shuttles running frequently take passengers in about fifteen minutes to the heart of Sitka, near Harrigan Centennial Hall; smaller ships sometimes anchor off downtown and bring their passengers ashore by tender. Once ashore, everything is done on foot: the historic core is flat and compact, and the main attractions are less than twenty minutes' walk from one another.

In the footsteps of Russian America

In the middle of Lincoln Street stands St. Michael's Orthodox Cathedral, rebuilt identically after the 1966 fire and still alive with icons saved from the flames. A few steps away, the Russian Bishop's House, completed in 1842 and restored by the National Park Service, is among the few buildings from this colonial period still standing in North America. Climbing Castle Hill, you reach the esplanade where, in 1867, the imperial flag was lowered and the American banner raised during the transfer of Alaska to the United States. The view of the bay and Mount Edgecumbe alone is worth the short, easy climb.

Totem Park

Following the shoreline east, you reach Sitka National Historical Park in about ten minutes; locals simply call it Totem Park. A shady trail winds beneath giant spruce trees, punctuated by totem poles standing among the trees, made almost unreal by the morning mist. It's also a place of memory: the park protects the site of the 1804 battle between Tlingit warriors and Russian forces. The visitor centre showcases the work of Indigenous artists, and it's not unusual to see a carver shaping red cedar before your eyes.

Raptors, salmon and rainforest

A little farther along the same path, the Alaska Raptor Center cares for injured bald eagles, falcons and owls before releasing them. The rehabilitation flight enclosures can be visited, and coming face to face with an eagle less than two metres away leaves a lasting impression. On the way back, the Sitka Sound Science Center and its hatchery explain the salmon life cycle, the pillar of all local life, with touch tanks that hold the attention of young and old alike. Outdoor enthusiasts can also opt for a boat outing: sea otters, whales and puffins frequent the waters of the sound in season.

The port call in practice

AttractionOn foot from the shuttle stop
St. Michael's Cathedral5 min
Castle Hill10 min
Bishop's House7 min
Totem Park10 to 15 min
Alaska Raptor Center25 min or a short taxi ride

A last look at the sound

On the way back to the ship, many passengers keep in mind a detail rather than a monument: the scent of spruce and seaweed on the totem trail, the cry of an eagle above the harbour, the perfect silhouette of the volcano resting on the water in the evening light. The town has changed flags three times without ever losing its character, and it's that character, more than anything else, that comes on board with you at departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Large ships generally berth a few kilometres north of town, from where frequent free shuttles reach the heart of Sitka in about fifteen minutes, near Harrigan Centennial Hall. Smaller ships sometimes anchor off the centre and tender ashore.
Yes, once you have taken the shuttle. The historic core is flat and compact, and the main sights are less than twenty minutes’ walk from one another.
String together St. Michael’s Cathedral, the Russian Bishop’s House and Castle Hill, then follow the shore to Sitka National Historical Park and the Alaska Raptor Center. It all fits into a normal call without racing the clock.
Because it was the capital of Russian America. St. Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral, rebuilt exactly after the 1966 fire, still holds the icons rescued from the flames, and the Russian Bishop’s House, completed in 1842, is among the few buildings of that era still standing in North America.
This is where, in 1867, the Russian imperial flag was lowered and the American flag raised at the transfer of Alaska to the United States. The climb is short and easy, and the view over the bay and Mount Edgecumbe justifies it on its own.
Sitka National Historical Park, about ten minutes from the centre along the shore. A shaded trail winds beneath giant spruces past totem poles, and the park protects the site of the 1804 battle between Tlingit warriors and Russian forces. It is not unusual to see a carver working red cedar there.
Yes, at the Alaska Raptor Center, which treats injured bald eagles, hawks and owls before releasing them. The rehabilitation flight enclosures can be visited, and meeting a bald eagle at under two metres leaves a lasting impression.
Yes. The Sitka Sound Science Center and its hatchery explain the salmon cycle with touch tanks that hold the attention of all ages, and the totem trail is an easy walk.
The US dollar and English. Tlingit and Russian left their mark on names and buildings, but not on everyday conversation.
Mid-May to mid-September. In season, sea otters, whales and puffins work the waters of the sound; rain and mist are part of the setting and give the totem trail its most memorable atmosphere.